Best Tabadlab Podcasts (2026)

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Ep 255 - The Rupee is Overvalued 28:30

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11d ago28:30

28:30

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ali Khizar about the ongoing dynamics in Pakistan's foreign exchange market, why the rupee is overvalued, and how interest rate cuts without depreciation of the currency would be a bad idea.You can read Ali's recent piece on this topic here: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40396210…

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Ep 254 - Unlocking Pakistan's Export Potential 49:31

1M ago49:31

49:31

In this episode, Uzair talks to Anna Twum about Pakistan’s export potential, how import tariffs hurt the export economy, and the ways in which Pakistan’s $60bn export potential can be met.Anna Twum is an economist at the World Bank and recently helped write the Pakistan Economic Update published by the World Bank. You can read the full report here:…

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Ep 253 - SECP's Role in Deepening Capital Markets 37:13

3M ago37:13

37:13

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zeeshan Khattak, Commissioner at the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) about the deepening of financial markets in Pakistan and the ways in which the SECP is trying to expand access to finance at the individual and corporate level.Mr. Zeeshan Rehman Khattak joined the SECP as Commissioner in Novembe…

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Ep 252 - Pakistan-Saudi Mutual Defense Pact 42:22

3M ago42:22

42:22

In this episode, Uzair Younus sits down with Kamran Bokhari to unpack the implications of the landmark Mutual Defence Agreement recently signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. With both nations pledging that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both,” the agreement marks a significant moment in bilater…

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Ep 251 - Political crisis in Nepal and the path forward 54:19

4M ago54:19

54:19

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ashish Pradhan about the revolution in Nepal and what comes next for the country. We focused on the underlying factors that led to the outburst of protests across the country, how the royalists tried to capture power, and what the priorities of the new interim prime minister are. We also talked about the role of fore…

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Ep 250 - What’s going on in the forex market? 45:56

4M ago45:56

45:56

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the ongoing economic situation in Pakistan where the foreign currency market is under strain. We discuss what is driving this shift, and how “over-extraction” is the policy focus right now in the country. We also spoke about protests in the region and what they tell us about the role of economic …

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Ep 249 - Volatility in the India-US Relationship 51:39

4M ago51:39

51:39

Uzair talks to Pranay Kotasthane about the growing tensions in U.S.–India economic relations and the difficult road ahead for deeper trade integration. We discuss what went wrong in the bilateral relationship after the high-profile Trump Modi summit, the domestic political constraints that make agricultural and dairy sector reforms difficult in Ind…

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Ep 248 - Donald Trump, Modi, and the U.S.-India Relationship 52:32

5M ago52:32

52:32

Uzair talks to Dr. Irfan Nooruddin about the growing volatility in U.S.–India relations under President Trump. We discuss the impact of the 25% tariff imposed on Indian goods, the administration’s criticism of India’s oil trade with Russia, and the challenges around H-1B visas and illegal immigration. We also talk about the political constraints fa…

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Ep 247 - What comes next for Iran? 39:40

6M ago39:40

39:40

Uzair talks to Dr. Neda Bolourchi about the recent Israel-Iran-US conflict and its key takeaways. We also talked about whether the Iranian government is secure, the chances of diplomacy working, and Iran’s future role in the Middle East.Dr. Neda Bolourchi is an interdisciplinary Middle East scholar and Associate Director of the Center for Middle Ea…

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Ep 246 - Budget 2025 is an “elephantine mediocrity” 40:35

7M ago40:35

40:35

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the 2025 budget and what the government got wrong. We also talked about Pakistan’s ability to extract geopolitical rents and how this stunts the reform agenda in the country.You can read Khurram’s latest column on the budget here - https://www.dawn.com/news/1916673/thrashing-around Chapters:0:00 …

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Ep 245 - Making sense of the geopolitical chessboard 1:07:02

7M ago1:07:02

1:07:02

Uzair talks to Dr. Kamran Bokhari about what the Trump Administration and his MAGA movement wants to achieve in the foreign policy and geopolitical realms. This is an area where there is still a lot of misconceptions about what Trump wants and the goals of his movement. Dr. Bokhari breaks down his assessment of the White House’s goals from Europe a…

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Ep 244 - Pathways to deescalation in the India-Pakistan crisis 55:21

7M ago55:21

55:21

Uzair talks to Dr. Sahar Khan about her key takeaways from the recent India-Pakistan war and why this conflict was an inflection point. We also talked about the role of international diplomacy, particularly the United States. Finally, the conversation also looked at what could happen in the next crisis, and the ways in which better engagement could…

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Ep 243 - Pahalgam Terror Attack and Options for India 37:25

8M ago37:25

37:25

Uzair talks to Colonel Ajai Shukla (retired) about the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. We spoke about the state of the insurgency in the region, how their tactics and strategies are evolving, and what can be done to improve security. In addition, we also touched on the prospects of a India-Pakistan war and potential off ramps that…

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Ep 242 - What comes next for the India-Pakistan relationship? 45:48

8M ago45:48

45:48

Uzair talks to Dr. Hassan Abbas about the ongoing standoff between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Kashmir. We talked about what options are on the table for both sides, the role of the United States, and why engagement and negotiations are the only path forward for both countries.Dr. Hassan Abbas is Distinguished Professor…

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Ep 241 - Terrorism, India-Pakistan Standoff, and the Future of the Subcontinent 48:33

8M ago48:33

48:33

Uzair talks to Muhammad Faisal about the fallout from the recent terror attack in Kashmir and the options both India and Pakistan have moving forward. We talk about the nuclear stability risks in the region as well as potential off-ramps that can help deescalate the situation.Muhammad Faisal is a Research Fellow at the University of Technology in S…

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Ep 240 - AI and the Future of Jobs 31:44

9M ago31:44

31:44

In this episode, Uzair talks to Adil Husain about his perspective on how AI is going to disrupt the labor market and create new opportunities for young talent in markets like Pakistan. Adil is an entrepreneur and strategist based in Washington.You can read his full piece here - https://adilhusain.substack.com/p/the-real-ai-threat-is-a-27-year-oldIf…

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Ep 239 - The state targets journalists through PECA 36:14

9M ago36:14

36:14

In this episode, Uzair talk to Abdul Moiz Jaferii about the frivolous cases against journalist Farhan Mallick, who was arrested during Ramzan and given bail after Eid. We discussed the ways in which a process was used to deliver punishment against him, and how the state of Pakistan is moving towards criminalizing thought in the country.Abdul Moiz J…

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Ep 238 - Pakistan tries to become a hard state 47:11

9M ago47:11

47:11

Uzair talks to Zahid Husain about the worsening security situation in Balochistan, which has led the army chief to assert that Pakistan must become a “hard state.” We discussed what can be defined as a hard state, and also try to understand the reasons for why Zahid Husain calls Pakistan a “predator state.”Zahid Husain is an author and journalist w…

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Episode 237 - Food inflation and market reforms in agriculture 47:20

9M ago47:20

47:20

Uzair talks to Adil Mansoor about the state of Pakistan’s agriculture sector and the outlook for the year. We focused on the wheat and sugar markets, whether deregulation is here to stay, and the ways in which farmers have dealt with collapsing wheat prices.Adil Mansoor is an agriculture analyst and writes for Business Recorder Research.Chapters:0:…

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Ep 236 - Is the ruling regime going to last for a long time? 40:38

10M ago40:38

40:38

Uzair talks to Arifa Noor about the mood in Islamabad after the Jaffer Express terror attack in Balochistan. We discussed the failures of Pakistan’s Balochistan policy, why political elites have continued to cede space to the military on key topics, and the decline in parliament’s standing over the years.Arifa Noor is a journalist at Dawn and host …

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Episode 235 - Balochistan in Crisis 1:02:24

10M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

This episode focuses on the ongoing and worsening crisis in Balochistan, where militancy is rising and the political process shows no signs of improving. Rafiullah Kakar joins Uzair to explain what is going on in the province, the root causes of the insurgency, and why a number of political problems have added fuel to the burning fire in Balochista…

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Episode 234 - What's Next for Pakistan's Startup and Innovation Economy 40:19

10M ago40:19

40:19

This episode focuses on the latest developments in Pakistan’s startup and innovation ecosystem Uzair talks to Sarah Munir about the latest findings from invest2innovate’s 2024 Startup Ecosystem Report.Sarah is CEO at invest2innovate and has over 15 years of experience in driving impact and fueling growth. invest2innovate supports startup communitie…

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Episode 233 - Pakistan's Foreign Policy Priorities in 2025 w/ Dr. Qamar Cheema 45:11

10M ago45:11

45:11

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Qamar Cheema about Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities, including relations with Afghanistan and the United States. We also talked about whether Donald Trump will intervene in Pakistan’s affairs to help release Imran Khan.Dr. Qamar Cheema is Executive Director of the Sanober Institute, a think tank based in Isla…

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Episode 232 - Assessing the PML-N's One Year Economic Performance 41:40

11M ago41:40

41:40

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about the PML-N government’s economic performance over the last year. We talked about how IMF stabilization is the easy part, why generating growth risks creating the same problems for the country, and the ways in which business interest groups are advocating for a return to past policies.Chapters:0:00…

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Episode 231 - DeepSeek Delivers a Massive Surprise in AI 43:10

11M ago43:10

43:10

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amir Husain about DeepSeek’s innovations in the world of artificial intelligence, which has been described as a “Sputnik Moment” by many in the technology world. We also talked about how DeepSeek achieved these innovations and what they tell us about China’s innovation ecosystem. Finally, Amir shares his view on expo…

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Episode 230 - Why is India's Economy Slowing Down and the Rupee Weakening? 31:00

11M ago31:00

31:00

In this episode, Uzair talks to Ankur Bhardwaj about India’s economic slowdown and its root causes. We also talked about what options the government has to stimulate growth through the budget, and the reasons why the Indian Rupee has been weakening in recent weeks. Finally, we touched on major structural reforms that are needed in India and whether…

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Episode 229 - Pakistan's Afghan Dilemma and the Path Forward 45:46

11M ago45:46

45:46

In this episode Uzair talks to Ali Nazari about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan, the status of the resistance against the Taliban, and the ways in which the Taliban are allowing transnational terrorism to occur from Afghanistan. Ali Nazari is Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF). Ali began his…

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Episode 228 - Pakistan moves towards an electric vehicle revolution 25:43

12M ago25:43

25:43

In this episode, Uzair talks to Sardar Awais Leghari, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), about the recently announced incentives for electric vehicle charging in Pakistan because of which tariffs will be cut by almost 45 percent. We spoke about why this announcement was made and what impact Minister Leghari anticipates as an o…

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Episode 227 - Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations Take a Bad Turn 19:28

12M ago19:28

19:28

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amb. Asif Durrani about the state of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and why they have soured. Amb. Durrani is the former special representative to Afghanistan and Senior Research Fellow at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. You can read his recent article here - https://stratheia.com/choose-between-pakistan-or-…

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Episode 226 - What awaits Pakistan's Economy in 2025 30:49

1y ago30:49

30:49

In this episode, Uzair talks to Khurram Husain about what 2024 was like for Pakistan’s economy and the outlook for 2025. We discussed how stability was restored on the economic fronts, its associated costs, and why no real reform has happened so far under the current setup.Chapters:0:00 Introduction0:58 Stability restored7:10 Finance minister’s per…

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Episode 225 - Shark Tank: Promoting Entrepreneurship in Pakistan 55:58

1y ago55:58

55:58

In this episode, Uzair talks Junaid Iqbal about his experience on Shark Tank Pakistan and the businesses that have excited him the most. We talked about valuations for businesses, the talent in the country, and the role Shark Tank can play in exciting next-generation talent in the country to be entrepreneurs.We also talked about Junaid’s project @P…

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Episode 224 - What happened with PTI's final call? 46:41

1y ago46:41

46:41

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zaigham Khan about PTI’s final call protest which ended in failure on November 26. We talked about the reasons for this failure, the current regime’s own weaknesses, and why the PTI and Imran Khan ought to reconsider their strategy.Chapters:0:00 Introduction1:20 Politics of dharna9:30 Failure of coalition building14:…

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Episode 223 - India's Heartland Chokes on Smog 45:15

1y ago45:15

45:15

In this episode, Uzair talks to Sunil Dahiya about the air pollution crisis in India and its key causes. We talked about what is being done to resolve this issue, why public pressure has not materialized in a big way, and how this current season marks an inflection point.Sunil is founder of Envirocatalysts and has been conducting research and advoc…

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Episode 222 - Profiting from patients - How pharmaceutical bribes are impact citizens' healthcare 31:20

1y ago31:20

31:20

In this episode, Uzair talks to Mishal S. Khan about the ways in which doctors are incentivized to over-prescribe medications to patients in Pakistan. This is something many of us have known about anecdotally, but now we have research to tell us about how widespread this problem could be.Mishal S. Khan is a Professor at the London School of Hygiene…

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Episode 221 - Pakistan's Air Pollution Crisis 50:02

1y ago50:02

50:02

Pakistan’s cities are choking on smog, with the cities in Punjab including Lahore being the worst impacted. In this episode, Uzair talks to Abid Omar about what is causing this air pollution crisis in the country and what can be done about it.Abid Omar is the founder of the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, which provides community-driven air qualit…

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Episode 220 - American-Muslims and the US Election 57:10

1y ago57:10

57:10

Uzair talks to Shadi Hamid on the US elections and the difficult choice American-Muslims are having to make in this cycle given the choices on offer. Shadi shared his own thoughts on how the Biden administration utterly failed when it comes to stopping the ongoing orgy of violence in Gaza. We also talk about why Kamala Harris has failed to engage w…

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Episode 219 - What to expect from the U.S. elections 56:39

1y ago56:39

56:39

Uzair talks to Nayyera Haq about the upcoming U.S. elections and what it means for the country, especially for immigrants and members of the American-Pakistani diaspora. We talked about the recent endorsement by PAKPAC for Donald Trump, the impact of the war in Gaza on voters, and scenarios for election night.Nayyera Haq is a seasoned communication…

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Episode 218 - Lockdowns, PTI, and the Youth 1:15:08

1y ago1:15:08

1:15:08

In this episode, Uzair has a broad conversation with Fasi Zaka about whats going on in Pakistan with the recent student protests, the constitutional amendments, and the state of the broader information ecosystem. We also talked about two of the weirdest amendments being discussed as part of the proposed constitutional amendments and what they mean …

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Episode 217 - Amendments, Bans, and Democracy 1:07:06

1y ago1:07:06

1:07:06

Political tensions continue to brew in Pakistan, with the Sharif government facing issues both in Islamabad and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In this episode, Uzair talks to Arifa Noor about the latest political developments in Pakistan. Arifa Noor is a journalist with Dawn and host of the shows Newswise. We covered what going on with the announcement to …

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Episode 216 - Have we entered a third world war? 1:22:11

1y ago1:22:11

1:22:11

The world seems like it is staring into the abyss, with conflicts breaking out across Eurasia. Does this mean that we are entering a new global conflict where the three great powers – the United States, Russia, and China – are entering into direct conflict? What role are smaller powers such as Israel and Iran, playing in all of this? And what do th…

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Episode 215 - Pakistan enters another IMF programme 38:50

1+ y ago38:50

38:50

In this episode, Uzair talks Khurram Husain about the recent agreement between Pakistan and the IMF, which has secured a 3-year $7 billion programme. We talked about what comes next for the economy and why the hard work is only just beginning.In addition, we focused on Pakistan’s debt sustainability, with Khurram sharing his perspective on why rest…

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Episode 214 - Constitutional Amendments, Legal Reforms, and the Failures of Pakistan's Supreme Court 1:02:08

1+ y ago1:02:08

1:02:08

In this episode, Uzair talks to Salahuddin Ahmed about the ongoing moves to amend Pakistan’s constitution and its drivers. We focused on the role of the Supreme Court, why the government is pushing through a new ordinance to change the court’s procedures, and the impact of political polarization on the superior judiciary.We also talked about why th…

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Episode 213 - PTI's Plan for Pakistan's Democracy 32:50

1+ y ago32:50

32:50

Pakistan’s parliament has historically been one of the weakest institutions in the country, but even by those standards, events that transpired over this past week have set a new low. Masked men entered parliament and took away numerous PTI legislators, who were subsequently arrested by the police. This has caused an uproar across the country, with…

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Episode 212 - Running Across Pakistan for Education 41:23

1+ y ago41:23

41:23

In this episode, Uzair talks to Tabarak Rehman who is attempting to become the first person ever to run 1,400 kilometers across the length of Pakistan to raise awareness around the country’s education crisis. His goal is to raise $1 million for The Citizens Foundation, an incredible non-profit that operates nearly 2,000 schools in Pakistan.Tabarak …

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Episode 211 - Did Pakistan Truly Achieve Freedom? 53:52

1+ y ago53:52

53:52

In this episode, Uzair talks to Dr. Ilhan Niaz about where Pakistan stands today and the nature of the status quo ruling the country. We also talked about the mainstreaming of anti-establishment views and what that means for the politics in the country.Finally, we also talked about modernization and the role of the Protestant Reformation in kick-st…

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Episode 210 - What happened in Bangladesh and what comes next? 48:18

1+ y ago48:18

48:18

In this episode, Uzair talks to Amb. Shamsher Mubin Chowdhury about what led to the collapse of the Hasina regime in Bangladesh and what comes next for the country. We focused on the reasons why younger citizens were angry with the government and reports of violence against Hindus over the last few days. We also discussed whether foreign agencies l…

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Episode 209 - What's going on in Balochistan? 1:00:19

1+ y ago1:00:19

1:00:19

Balochistan’s city of Gwadar has been the center of protests for the last few days. Roads and highways leading into the city have been blocked and countless protestors have been arrested. Uzair talks to Dr. Mahvish Ahmad to figure out what is going on in the province and better understand the underlying reasons for the crisis in Balochistan.Dr. Mah…

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Episode 208 - Can the status quo be sustained in Pakistan? (Urdu) 59:40

1+ y ago59:40

59:40

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zaigham Khan about the ongoing polycrisis in Pakistan and the path forward. We focused on the structural drivers of this conflict, in particular the breaking down of the post-Zia social contract that has sustained Pakistan’s political economy for decades. Zaigham argues that the PTI’s popularity is a symptom of the u…

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Episode 207 - Is a Hezbollah-Israel War Imminent? 43:33

1+ y ago43:33

43:33

In this episode, Uzair talks to Faysal Itani about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. We talked about the current state of play, the strategic goals for both sides, and the role of the United States, Iran, and other powers.Faysal Itani is a Senior Director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. He is also an adjunct pro…

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Episode 206 - Why a PTI ban may shake the foundations of Pakistan 41:29

1+ y ago41:29

41:29

In this episode, Uzair talks to Zahid Hussain about the latest in Pakistan, where the Sharif government has announced it will seek to ban Imran Khan’s PTI. This is a dangerous move and Zahid helps us understand why this reflects the ruling regime’s weakness.We also talked about internal politics within the Pakistan Army and why this confrontation i…